Maternity undergarment



May 20, 1952 DELMAN 2,597,710

MATERNITY UNDERGARMENT Filed Aug. 15, 1949 INVENTOR. 650/265 DEL MAN BY if Jmw A 7'TORNE Y Patented May 20, 1952 I UNITED STATES PATENT fort es:

MATERNITY UNDERGARMENT George Delman, Los Angeles, Calif. Application August 15, 1949, Serial No. 110,384

larly dress slips, panties, drawers, etc., worn by women in pregnancy, do not unduly constrict or confine the abdomen. More particularly it is undesirable that the portion of the garment over the abdomen be elastic or embody elastic material, since the tendency of such elastic portions is to seek a contracted condition not to be desired. However, a property of maternity garments is size adjustability and, for best results, such adjustability should be accompanied by elasticity or stretchability to accommodate body movements.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a maternity garment that is adjustable for size, substantially inelastic over the abdomen, and elastic at the sides and/or at the back to accommodate body movements.

The invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, the drawings merely show and the following description merely describes embodiments of the present invention, which are given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a maternity dress slip embodying one form of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view as taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l. v

Fig. 3 is a side view, in flat condition, of the upper portion of said slip.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the upper portion of an undergarment, such as panties, drawers, half-slips, etc.

With particular reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the garment 5 embodies a front section 6 and a back section I, and is conventionally supported from the shoulders by straps 8. The width of the front is considerably greater than that of the back. Inasmuch as the back of the wearer undergoes little change during the period of pregnancy, the side scams 9 will retain their normal position at the sides of the garment during all conditions of adjustment thereof. Accordingly, the front 6 is enough wider than the back 1 so that the former will comfortably fit over the abdomen during the later stages of pregnancy and 1 Claim. (Cl. 2-221) can be suitably gathered for proper'flt over a flatter abdomen.

In thepresent garment the gathers are formed in the lateral portions of the garment front 6, as indicated by folds 10, it being undesirable to have such gathers or folds in the front portion H of the front 6. Toobviate gathers forming in front portion H, an inelastic band or tape I2 is affixed by stitching at the waist of the garment to said front portion, said tape being transverse and terminating at the ends short of the side scams 9.

The garment is provided with adjustable means l3 at each side, each means comprising a length of elastic l4 secured to an end of tape 12, a loop 15 secured in seam 9, and a buckle l6 carried by the loop. It will be evident that the garment is adjusted to the body by connecting each elastic l4 and its respective buckle l6, causing the folds or gathers ID to form in accordance with the degree of adjustment. It will be noted that both the back and front of the garment are flat and unfolded and that the garment resiliently conlines the body according to the degree of stretch in elastics l4. Further it will be seen that stretchability is only at the sides and that the front is non-stretchable.

In the variation of Fig. 4, the garment ll, be-

ing a half garment, terminates at the waistline. As shown, the folds or gathers ID are omitted by providing side slits 18 above the side seams 9. In this case, the front 6 is provided with half belt l9 at the top, the ends of the same mounting loops 20. An elastic band 2| is provided at the top of the garment back 1, the latter being gathered at 22 to allow said band to stretch. Free end portions 23 of band 2| separably engage with buckles 24 carried by loops 20. It will be evident that the waist size of the garment is readily adjusted to the wearer and that the front, fitting over the abdomen, is substantially non-stretchable. Such stretch as the garment has is provided by band 2|.

It will be seen that the two forms of the invention disclosed are reversals of each other and it is evident that the buckles it may be affixed to the ends of tape l2 and the elastics l4 extend from side seams 9. Also, side slits l8 may be replaced by folded portions, although in half garments, such is not desired.

Regardless of the variations, the garment should have a non-constricting front over the abdomen, fit with reasonable snugness over the waist, and be stretchable at the sides or at both the sides and the back to accommodate body movements.

While the invention that has been illustrated and described is now regarded as the preferred embodiment, the constructions are, of course, subject to modifications without departing from A maternity undergarment comprising front.

and back sections connected by side searns, the sections terminating at their upper ends at the waistline of the wearer, said. seams terminating,

substantially below said upper ends of the sections to provide side slits that separate said upper ends, the front section being gatherless and the back-section being provided withgathers along the upper end thereof, an unstretchable waistband portion generally coextensive with and securedto the upper Dortionof the front section, a stretchable waistband portion coextensive-with andtsecured to the gathered upper portion of the back. section, said stretchable waistband portion 4 having lateral extensions adapted to span across said side slits, and connectors on the opposite ends of the unstretchable waistband portion adapted for separable and adjustable connection with the respective lateral extensions of the stretchable waistband portion.

GEORGE DELIVLAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 22,665 Mahoney Aug. 14, 1945 996,210 Carroll V June27, 1911 1,079,552 Herman Nov. 25, 1913 1,237,394 Schultz Aug. 21, 1917 2,072,020 Borman V Feb. 23, 1937 2,276,609 Cadous p Mar. 17, 1942 2,280,479 Cohen Apr. 21, 1942 2,454,287 Mahoney Nov. 23, 1.948 

